Already a Member?

Sign In
Jen Kao

Jen Kao

Designer. New York

Two words are synonymous with Jen Kao - "easy dramatics". Los Angeles-born Kao was raised in Kansas and hailed to NYC in 1999 to study Studio Art at NYU. With internships under her belt in the world of creative design, Kao's yearning to learn about the realm of three-dimensional design kicked in, and began her growing interest in textile construction.
From Jill Stuart to Twinkle, Kao was ready to venture onto her own, and set up her namesake shop in 2006. Since launching her line, she's collaborated with Alejandro Ingelmo and last year, Kao was invited to participate in The Vogue Talents Corner by Vogue Italia to showcase and sell items from her collection in Milan.
She gains even more points in our books, as her favorite website is National Geographic's digital initiative, and her love for Stephen Sprouse (she has the scarves to back it up) matches ours. She's got some killer Nike Dunks that glow in the dark (she can thank her brother for those), and a sick set of Murakami/Supreme skateboards (once again - thank you bro). But, it's her inspiration from outer space that intrigues us the most, referring to her shoe creations as "alien stompers". "The print on the satin is inspired by NASA shots of Earth from above. I wanted to design shoes that made you feel like you could conquer the entire galaxy" states Kao...and we couldn't agree more. To infinity...and beyond!

I’m always amazed by Louis Vuitton’s choices in collaborations. They have mastered the concept of iconic VS iconic. The Murakami bags that I've collected were all by luck…chance walk-bys by myself or friends during launches in Honolulu, Shanghai and Tokyo.

Read More

Scarves, Louis Vuitton x Stephen Sprouse; Bags, Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami

Another gift from my brother: Glow-in-the-dark Nike Dunks. One pair amongst a fairly large collection. The minis are part of a big family, too.

Read More

Shoes, Nike

This bag was conquered at a walk-by store event in Honolulu.

Read More

Bag, Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami

They’ve been referred to as “alien stompers,” which I guess isn’t too far from the mark. The print on the satin is inspired by NASA shots of Earth. I wanted to design shoes that made you feel like you could conquer the entire galaxy.

Read More

Shoes, Jen Kao

I dialed up the Balenciaga store immediately after seeing these glacial shoes in an editorial. Impossible to walk in, but worth every pinch!

Read More

Shoes, Balenciaga; Sunglasses, Cazal

The two clutches stacked on the Lego Millennium Falcon (which my brother and I built) are inspired by stibnite and have come to work as great centerpieces for tables. The other clutch is handmade chain mail set in resin.

Read More

Clutches, Jen Kao

I bought the sunglasses five years ago at one of my favorite stores in Tokyo, Loveless. The big red bow is another part of a Halloween costume, but I’ve since found it to be a great addition to my collection of headpieces.

Read More

Top, Dries Van Noten; Headpiece, Patricia Field; Sunglasses, Linda Farrow x Jeremy Scott; Card Holder, CHANEL

These woven leather shoes were the best seasonal transition shoes I’ve ever purchased. The shades I nabbed in Milan. The hoodie is also great year-round. Big surprise, but the Murakami print is yet another gift from my brother.

Read More

Top, Proenza Schouler; Shoes, Miu Miu; Sunglasses, Prada

There are my favorite Hayao Miyazaki characters from “My Neighbor Totoro.” They are called Makurokurosuke, loosely translated as “Black black things.” I bought the watch at Maria Luisa Homme (though I really wanted the skeleton playing the drum set). Solange is my favorite jewelry designer of all time.

Read More

Watch, Natalia Brilli; Ring, Solange Azagury-Partridge

This top is called the “Cat Lizard Tee.” The print is inspired by more aerial NASA shots. The fringe was created with fishing lure. The paneling construction and design was intended to resemble a hybrid creature I imagined: half cat, half lizard. I bought the leopard, zebra, and cheetah Surface To Air high-tops in their Paris store. The snowboard and Murakami/Supreme skateboard are both gifts from my brother. The skateboard is a set of three. He took it to a skate shop for trucks and wheels, and the guy owner thought he was crazy. He asked, “Who does that to an LTD deck?”and my brother answered, “We do.”

Read More

Top, Jen Kao; Shoe, Surface to Air

The roller skate doorstop was a birthday gift, though I use it more for display. On top is a stack of my bangles from last season. More Re-Ment miniatures! This is from the “Convenience Store” series. You don’t want to know how long I spent putting these together and arranging the products. I like to come home from work and micromanage something.

Read More

Bracelets, Jen Kao

My caterpillar! I’ve never worn it out, but I have certainly slept next to it. A collection of old LTD bags hanging from deer’s ears, and two gorgeously uncomfortable pumps. I have a strong attachment to this jacket. A guy off the street once told me I looked like Michael Jackson, but that’s probably because I had just informed him that his fresh tattoo was misspelled. The Freon Oakley’s are part of a big collection.

Read More

Jacket, Yves Saint Laurent; Green Shoe, Yves Saint Laurent; Blue Shoe, CHANEL; Turquoise Bag, Louis Vuitton; Blue Bag, Fendi; Brown Bag, Hermès; Scarf, Prada

The necklace is part of my 2009 Halloween costume. I dressed up as a cabaret version of the White Rabbit. The base is from Patricia Field’s and I added the eggplant Swarovski crystals. That’s vinyl Heatherette on the left!

Read More

Bag, Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami

Strawberry ToFu Okayo is toting a precious little denim Louis Vuitton logo bag that I now realize I want back. I'm considering making a return to carrying purses after a five-year hiatus.

Read More

Bag, Louis Vuitton

This is actually an old flower vase filled with some little guys that lost their spaces on my shelves. Flowers die, but vinyls are forever! The 5th Avenue CHANEL store had a private customization 2.55 event on Fashion’s Night Out. My mother scored me an appointment. Limited colors and combos AND initial personalization inside! Strange, but this is actually my first and only 2.55 bag.

Read More

Bag, Custom CHANEL

The My Little Pony was part of a retrospective/auction called The Pony Project that invited female New York artists to work from a blank pony and create their own. The girls from I Heart, RIP, which used to be my favorite Nolita store, created this one. I bought the skirt at 10 Corso Como last Milan Fashion Week and wore it to Roberto Cavalli’s FW11 show. The James Jean print is a gift from my brother. I’ve been smitten with his work since the Prada collaboration.

Read More

Skirt, Christopher Kane

The fur was an investment I made at L’Eclaireur last year during Paris Fashion Week. Definitely a one-of-a-kind look, and I went back three times to look at it. Ultimately, I could not resist. The creepers I bought last Milan Fashion Week. It took a lot of persistence to get the last pair.

Read More

Jacket, If Six Was Nine; Shoes, Prada

The tea set was a gift from my mother. The implemented Alice In Wonderland was a gift from Tokyo from my pattern-maker. They seemed to belong together. The jewelry is a mix and includes birthday gifts from Dior, Van Cleef and Cartier, as well as rings from the fine jewelry collection I designed for fall 2011.

Read More

Jewelry, Various Designers.

The Sprouse collaboration is genius. I have bought every accessory aside from the bags. Louis Vuitton chooses the least obvious, unexpected partners.

Read More

Scarf, Louis Vuitton x Stephen Sprouse

That’s Murakami’s Kiki wearing a part of my Balenciaga bracelet. Kiki was a gift from my brother. He says she reminds him of me.

Read More

Bow, Balenciaga

I picked up these sunglasses at our friend’s fantastic hat store, Still Life. I’d always wanted a pair and when he brought these out from under the table, I knew I had to have them. The tray of miniatures is one of the many Re-Ment sets in my collection. This one is from the “School Supplies” edition: mini protractor, ruler, compass, binder clips and white out. I had to have the Dior scissors when I saw they were “multi-functional.”

Read More

Sunglasses, Cazal

I love these wall vinyls, though I believe the purpose is to hang real keys over them. The bag hanging on the door handle seems like a more stylish choice.

Read More

Bag, Louis Vuitton

I hope if I ever have little girls of my own they are Yoshitomo Nara girls. He is my favorite Japanese pop artist, and I buy up any Nara paraphernalia I can afford and get my hands on.

Read More

Top, Christopher Kane

Left, fall '09. Right, spring '10. These two items are probably our two bestsellers. I always do one straight up bodycon paneled dress each season where the piecing reflects a new approach to fragmentation of the human body. Overall, this photocomposition is all about structure and facets.

Read More

Dresses, Jen Kao; Shoes, Balenciaga

The ring and watch are just second-class citizens at this fabulous ToFu Oyako dance party.

Read More

All, Cartier

I’m always amazed by Louis Vuitton’s choices in collaborations. They have mastered the concept of iconic VS iconic. The Murakami bags that I've collected were all by luck…chance walk-bys by myself or friends during launches in Honolulu, Shanghai and Tokyo. Scarves, Louis Vuitton x Stephen Sprouse; Bags, Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami

Another gift from my brother: Glow-in-the-dark Nike Dunks. One pair amongst a fairly large collection. The minis are part of a big family, too. Shoes, Nike

This bag was conquered at a walk-by store event in Honolulu. Bag, Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami

They’ve been referred to as “alien stompers,” which I guess isn’t too far from the mark. The print on the satin is inspired by NASA shots of Earth. I wanted to design shoes that made you feel like you could conquer the entire galaxy. Shoes, Jen Kao

I dialed up the Balenciaga store immediately after seeing these glacial shoes in an editorial. Impossible to walk in, but worth every pinch! Shoes, Balenciaga; Sunglasses, Cazal

The two clutches stacked on the Lego Millennium Falcon (which my brother and I built) are inspired by stibnite and have come to work as great centerpieces for tables. The other clutch is handmade chain mail set in resin. Clutches, Jen Kao

I bought the sunglasses five years ago at one of my favorite stores in Tokyo, Loveless. The big red bow is another part of a Halloween costume, but I’ve since found it to be a great addition to my collection of headpieces. Top, Dries Van Noten; Headpiece, Patricia Field; Sunglasses, Linda Farrow x Jeremy Scott; Card Holder, CHANEL

These woven leather shoes were the best seasonal transition shoes I’ve ever purchased. The shades I nabbed in Milan. The hoodie is also great year-round. Big surprise, but the Murakami print is yet another gift from my brother. Top, Proenza Schouler; Shoes, Miu Miu; Sunglasses, Prada

There are my favorite Hayao Miyazaki characters from “My Neighbor Totoro.” They are called Makurokurosuke, loosely translated as “Black black things.” I bought the watch at Maria Luisa Homme (though I really wanted the skeleton playing the drum set). Solange is my favorite jewelry designer of all time. Watch, Natalia Brilli; Ring, Solange Azagury-Partridge

This top is called the “Cat Lizard Tee.” The print is inspired by more aerial NASA shots. The fringe was created with fishing lure. The paneling construction and design was intended to resemble a hybrid creature I imagined: half cat, half lizard. I bought the leopard, zebra, and cheetah Surface To Air high-tops in their Paris store. The snowboard and Murakami/Supreme skateboard are both gifts from my brother. The skateboard is a set of three. He took it to a skate shop for trucks and wheels, and the guy owner thought he was crazy. He asked, “Who does that to an LTD deck?”and my brother answered, “We do.” Top, Jen Kao; Shoe, Surface to Air

The roller skate doorstop was a birthday gift, though I use it more for display. On top is a stack of my bangles from last season. More Re-Ment miniatures! This is from the “Convenience Store” series. You don’t want to know how long I spent putting these together and arranging the products. I like to come home from work and micromanage something. Bracelets, Jen Kao

My caterpillar! I’ve never worn it out, but I have certainly slept next to it. A collection of old LTD bags hanging from deer’s ears, and two gorgeously uncomfortable pumps. I have a strong attachment to this jacket. A guy off the street once told me I looked like Michael Jackson, but that’s probably because I had just informed him that his fresh tattoo was misspelled. The Freon Oakley’s are part of a big collection. Jacket, Yves Saint Laurent; Green Shoe, Yves Saint Laurent; Blue Shoe, CHANEL; Turquoise Bag, Louis Vuitton; Blue Bag, Fendi; Brown Bag, Hermès; Scarf, Prada

The necklace is part of my 2009 Halloween costume. I dressed up as a cabaret version of the White Rabbit. The base is from Patricia Field’s and I added the eggplant Swarovski crystals. That’s vinyl Heatherette on the left! Bag, Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami

Strawberry ToFu Okayo is toting a precious little denim Louis Vuitton logo bag that I now realize I want back. I'm considering making a return to carrying purses after a five-year hiatus. Bag, Louis Vuitton

This is actually an old flower vase filled with some little guys that lost their spaces on my shelves. Flowers die, but vinyls are forever! The 5th Avenue CHANEL store had a private customization 2.55 event on Fashion’s Night Out. My mother scored me an appointment. Limited colors and combos AND initial personalization inside! Strange, but this is actually my first and only 2.55 bag. Bag, Custom CHANEL

The My Little Pony was part of a retrospective/auction called The Pony Project that invited female New York artists to work from a blank pony and create their own. The girls from I Heart, RIP, which used to be my favorite Nolita store, created this one. I bought the skirt at 10 Corso Como last Milan Fashion Week and wore it to Roberto Cavalli’s FW11 show. The James Jean print is a gift from my brother. I’ve been smitten with his work since the Prada collaboration. Skirt, Christopher Kane

The fur was an investment I made at L’Eclaireur last year during Paris Fashion Week. Definitely a one-of-a-kind look, and I went back three times to look at it. Ultimately, I could not resist. The creepers I bought last Milan Fashion Week. It took a lot of persistence to get the last pair. Jacket, If Six Was Nine; Shoes, Prada

The tea set was a gift from my mother. The implemented Alice In Wonderland was a gift from Tokyo from my pattern-maker. They seemed to belong together. The jewelry is a mix and includes birthday gifts from Dior, Van Cleef and Cartier, as well as rings from the fine jewelry collection I designed for fall 2011. Jewelry, Various Designers.

The Sprouse collaboration is genius. I have bought every accessory aside from the bags. Louis Vuitton chooses the least obvious, unexpected partners. Scarf, Louis Vuitton x Stephen Sprouse

That’s Murakami’s Kiki wearing a part of my Balenciaga bracelet. Kiki was a gift from my brother. He says she reminds him of me. Bow, Balenciaga

I picked up these sunglasses at our friend’s fantastic hat store, Still Life. I’d always wanted a pair and when he brought these out from under the table, I knew I had to have them. The tray of miniatures is one of the many Re-Ment sets in my collection. This one is from the “School Supplies” edition: mini protractor, ruler, compass, binder clips and white out. I had to have the Dior scissors when I saw they were “multi-functional.” Sunglasses, Cazal

I love these wall vinyls, though I believe the purpose is to hang real keys over them. The bag hanging on the door handle seems like a more stylish choice. Bag, Louis Vuitton

I hope if I ever have little girls of my own they are Yoshitomo Nara girls. He is my favorite Japanese pop artist, and I buy up any Nara paraphernalia I can afford and get my hands on. Top, Christopher Kane

Left, fall '09. Right, spring '10. These two items are probably our two bestsellers. I always do one straight up bodycon paneled dress each season where the piecing reflects a new approach to fragmentation of the human body. Overall, this photocomposition is all about structure and facets. Dresses, Jen Kao; Shoes, Balenciaga

The ring and watch are just second-class citizens at this fabulous ToFu Oyako dance party. All, Cartier